Meter for liquids



Feb. 25, 1936. .1. P. E. PoxLL'o-r METER FOR LIQUIDS led June 27, 1954 Peienied Feb. 2s, 193s l UNITED STATES l PATENT O'FFIHCE y METER Foa LIQUms de la Fouilleuse, Saint ration of France Cloud, France, a'corpo- Application June 27,1934, serial Ne. nasse In France July 4, 1933 4 Claims.

Volumetric meters for indicating the quantity in volume of a uid, for instance, of a liquid, during the lling or the emptying of a tank are generally constituted by a chamber which receives the liquid, is lled therewith, and then is evacuated, the operation of the movable parts of the chamber (for instance a hydraulic motor) being employed for actuating a register (calibrated in volume). indicating how many times the metering chamber has been filled and emptied.

The results thus obtained would be precise only if the liquid had alwaysthe same density. This is, however, not always the case, because of the variations of temperature. This drawback is particularly serious in the case of highly expanding liquids with irregular expansion coeficients, such as oils, petrols, petroleums, alcohols and the like.

Furthermore, when a tank-ship is charged with oil in one port and is being discharged in another port of a different geographical latitude, the density of the oil will vary with the geographical latitude, and if it is desired to have an exact metering `by weight of the transported oil, it is necessary to compensate for this variation.

The problem consistingin taking into account the variation of the density of iiuids in apparatus, meteringl the delivered amount of these iiuids is known and various solutions have already been proposed.

It has particularly been proposed in meters for gases to provide a transmission of variable ratio between the metering ilow responsive means and the register, the transmission being actuated by devices subjected to the influence of various factors on which depends the density of lthe gas to y be metered.

In such known apparatus, the variation of the ratio of transmission is usually accomplished by a series of combined correcting devices each controlled by one of the factors influencing the fluid to be metered, particularly by the pressure of the gas, the atmospheric pressure, etc. In other known apparatus, the controlling member is constituted by a membrane, which is more or less deilected according to thepressure of the gas. t

While such apparatus give the necessary results for gases, they cannot do this for liquids because of the practically total incompressibility of these. The indications would not, therefore, be exact.

For metering liquids, known apparatus use the subjection of the varying transmission ratio to a correcting device controlled by the temperature oi' the liquid, for instance by a thermostat. But such apparatus cannot give complete results either, as the density oi a liquid varies not only in function of its temperature, and the kind of apparatus mentioned would provide the same indications for liquids of different densities but identical temperatures. e

The present invention provides a remedy for these drawbacks by bringing a complete solution to the problem. This is obtained by@ equipping the meter for liquids with a correcting member, the operation of which depends directly upon the density ofv the metered liquid and not the temperature.

'Ihe invention is characterized in that the correcting member is constituted by a iloat sunk into the liquid to be metered, and equilibrated therein, the displacements of said float in respect of a predetermined position, and lwhich are caused by variations in density of the liquid to be metered, controlling a variable speedratio device inserted between the movable member of said meter and its register.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a iloat is balanced by a counterweight sion with variable-gear-ratio. This servo-motor operating under the action of the liquid to be metered, as well as the transmission with variable ratio are preferably arranged in a. manner to be subjected also to the action of the oat in the case where the meter for liquids is of the type capable of operation with liquids iiowing in two directions (particularly of the type having a reversible motor).

The iioat may also control other additional apparatus useful for `the satisfactory operation of the installation, as will be seen in the following.

Other details of the invention and its advantages will be hereinafter explained with reference to the description of a preferred embodiment given by way of example and illustrated in the annexed drawing. l

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the entire meter and of all 'its accessory devices.

Figure 2 shows a detail of the servo-motor with its member in a position different from that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a detail of the motion transmission between the motor and the register, with one of its members in a. diiierent position than that of Figure 1. g Q

The metering iiow responsive means, constituted yby a hydraulic-motor I, is mounted in the 55 piping 2-3. The shaft l ofnthe motor transmits its motion to a weight register 5 (shown at the upper right hand portion of Figure 1)', by means of a transmission shaft i, of a shaft carrying a worm Wheel 1 and of a transmission of variable' ratio, the arrangement of which will be hereinafter indicated. In the piping 2-3 oi' the motor a tank 8 is4 disposed (which may be constituted by the piping 2-3 itself) entirely lled withbeen indicated, between the motor I and theweight register 5. This control is eifected by means of a single servo-motor, it being necessary, in order to maintain sensitivity, to demand only a very small amount of work from the float 3.

This servo-motor is constituted as follows: two

pistons I6, I1 connected by a rod I8 may move in a cylinder I5. In order to subject this powerpiston I6, I1 to the displacements of the float 9, pipings have been disposed at the two ends of the cylinder I5, by which said cylinder is brought into communication with two tappings I9 and 20 taken on the piping 2-3 on either side of the motor I. These two tappings I3, 2li lead to a small cylinder 2| containing a distributing slide-valve comprising two pistons 22, 23, the rod of which is articulated at 25 to a lever III-26 operated itself by the float 9. One of the tappings I3, communicates by conduits I8', I3" with the two ends of the cylinder 2|, while the other tapping 2li communicates by the conduit 23' with the middle of said cylinder. From the cylinder 2|, two pipes 21', 28 lead to the chamber ot distribution 23 of a reversing slide-valve with two pistons 3l, 3l adapted to invert (for a given position of theA distributing slide-valve 22, 23) the connections between the pipes 21,'28 coming from rthe distributing valve 22, `23 and the two ends 32, 33 of the power cylinder I5, in order that these ends -should always receive in the sanie manner at one given end, the pressure existing before the motor I, and at the other end, the pressure existing beyond said motor, notwithstanding the change ofy direction of the flow of liquid which may have been brought .about in the piping 2--3.

The control of the inverting slide-valve 3II3I is briefly as follows: its rod 3l is connected to an elastic v.membrane 35 housed in a chamber 33. One of the faces of the membrane, the top face in the drawing. communicates with the tapping I9 by means of a piping I3'", while the lower face of the membrane communicates with the tapping 20 by meansgof a piping 2li". In thecase illustrated, the direction of flow of the liquid in the piping 2-3 is assumed to be that of the arrow 3 1.` The pressure above the motor I, i. e. the higher pressure, is thus transmitted through the -tapping I9 to the upper face of the membrane 3l which takes the position shown in Figure 1. The position oi! the valve 3Il-3I.then provides communication between the pipe 21 and the upper end 32 of the power cylinder I5, and between the pipe 2B and the lower end .33 of said cylinder, according to the two arrows of the gure.

On the contrary, if the flow of the liquid in the piping 2-3 were'in the opposite direction to the arrow 31, the pressure existing above the motor would be transmittedthrough the tapping 2l and would act upon the lower face of the membrane accuses 35. The latter would then take the position 35' shown in Figure 2 f The invertingvalve 3II-3I would then take the position indicated as 30'-3 I 'in Figure 2 and provide communication between the pipe 21 and the pipe 33' leading to the lower end oiV the power-piston, at the same time providing communication between the pipe 28 and the pipe 32' leading to the upper end of the powerpiston, as shown by the arrows of -Figure 2.

For subjecting the displacements of the powerpiston I6|1 to those oi the iioat 9, these two members are connected by a lever 38-26 pivoted at a ilxed point 33 of the frame (symmetrical to the axis 25 with respect to the articulation 26), actuated at one end 38 by the power-piston lli-I1 and articulated at the other end, at 26, to the lever Ill-26 controlled by the ioat 9, .the latter lever being articulated, as already stated on the rod 24 of the distributing valve 22-23.

The subjecting is thus realized in the following manner:

The float 9 and its balancing counterweight I4 are adapted in such a manner that, for a liquid having the mean density of the liquids for which the apparatus is destined, for instance the mean density of petroleums, oil, etc., the branch Il of the lever is horizontal. In this position the lower branch I2 is vertical and the counterweight IlV does not exert any action on the iloat. If the apparatus is then utilized for a liquid of higher density, the float receives a stronger upward thrust from the liquid and moves upward until the mechanical moment which it exerts on the bent lever II-I2 is balanced by the moment exerted by the counterweight i4 deviated from the vertical. 'I'his corresponds, for instance, to the position of the float 9 and of the counterweight Il shown in full lines in the drawing. On the contrary, if the liquid to be metered has a lower density, the float will come, for instance, to the position 9 and the counterweight to the position I4 shown in dotted lines, the equilibrium being established under the same conditions as above. Therefore, to each density there corresponds a particular state of equilibrium and a particular position of the float.

It may be easily seen that the position of the power-piston I6|1 will always correspond to that of the oat 9.' If it is assumed, for instance, that the oat being in its lower position 9 and consequently the power-piston bing also in its lower position I6I1 shown in dotted lines, the density of the liquid should increase; the oat 9' will rise and the lever `Illu-26', articulated at 2i', which has not yet moved. will cause the slidevalve 22-23 to rise. The pressure above the motor I will be transmitted through the pipings I9, I3", 23, 33' to the lower end 33 oi the powerA cylinder I5, while the pressure beyond the motor I, coming through the tapping 20, will be transmitted through the pipings 20', 21 and 32 to the upper end 32 of the cylinder. The pressure above the motor being the stronger, the power-piston IIL-I1 will thus be lifted until the resulting lowering of the articulation 26' brings the distributing valve 22-23 back to the closing position. When the equilibrium has been established, the power-piston IBL-I1' will be positioned due to the linking Irl,-2B-38, to the pivot 39 and to the valve 22-23, in the position corresponding to that of the oat. A

' An exact servo-system is thus obtained between the iloat 3 and the power-piston lef-I1, this servo-system operating in the same 'manner whatever may be the direction of iiow in the pipinger-piston ls-n 1s brie'ny arranged in the :o1-

lowing manner: the motion of the shaft 4 oiV the motor is transmitted as mentioned above by means `f an intermediate shaft 6, to a worm wheel 1. 'Ihis worm wheel meshes with a toothed wheel 4I| driving by light friction a lever 4I carrying the axle of a pinion 42 meshing with pinion 40. In the neighborhood of the `pinion 42 lies another pinion 44 which may be brought into mesh with the pinion 42 if the direction of rotation of the pinion 4I) 'indicated by thearrow 43 is suitable. 'I'he pinion 44 is integral with a crank which this flow takes place.

45 on which is articulated a connecting rod constituted by a` tubular part 46 containing a spring. 41. A rod 46 having a piston 4 9 at its end may slide within this tubular part connecting rod is coupled at 50 to an oscillating arm 5I `freely pivoted at 52 to the shaft of a ratchet wheel 53; This oscillating arm 5I is provided with a pawl 54. It will be seen that when the pinions 42 and 44 are in mesh, the system formed by the connecting rod 46-48 and the crank 45, produces oscillation of the lever 5I and pawl 542 so that the latter, in its descending stroke, makes the ratchet wheel 53 turn by an amount corresponding to the angle through which it oscillates. The connecting rod 46'-46 being formed by two sliding parts, it will be possible to modify the value ofthe angle of oscillation of the lever 5I and pawl 54 and consequently the speed of rotation of the ratchet wheel 53 by varying the length of the sliding connecting rod 46-48 during the upward movement thereof. This is obtained by the control, by means of the power-piston I6-I1, of the following device: on this piston I6-I1 is' articulated a lever 55-56 pivoted at a. fixed point 51 of the frame. At the lend 56 is linked a connecting rod 56 the other end of which is coupled to a small lever 59 pivoted freely to the shaft 52 of the ratchet wheel 53. 'I'he lever 5| is provided with a lug 6U while the end 6I of the lever 59 acts as an upper stop for this lug. Byway of example, when the powerpiston I6-I1 is in the position shown in full lines in the drawing, the corresponding position of said stop 6I prevents the lever 5| and pawl 54 from rising above their position shown infull lines in the figure, and which corresponds to a determined compression of the spring 41 carried by the sliding connecting rod 46-48, that is to say, to a determined shortening of said connecting rod. If the power-piston I 6|1 moves downward, this corresponding to the passage of a liquid of lower density, the stop 6I also lowers and the .upward amplitude of the oscillation of the lever 5I and the pawl 54 is decreased, so that the rotation transmitted to the weight register 5 by meansi of this ratchet 53 and by the intermediate pinion 53 is reduced for a given rotation of the shaft 4 of the motor I, i. e., for a given The apparatus is further arranged in a manner to give immediately other useful indications. For instance, the shaft ofthe worm 1 drives directly a tachometer 62 adapted to rotate in two opposite directions, said tachometer indicating the instantaneous rate of flow in one direction or the other and indicating also the direction in uated before the connecting rod 46-48, the speed of its rotation depends solely'on that of the shaft 46. This sliding 4 of the motor I, and this motion is transmitted to a volume register 66 b y means of a setl of bevel pinions 63, gear wheels 64 and the shaft 65.

In tanks' for oils, petroleums, etc., it often happens that a more or less important amount of water or other light liquids is mixed with the product. The metering apparatus is arranged in a manner to indicate the passage of such a foreign liquid of determined density through the motor I and to give its instantaneous rate of flow and its volume registration. 'I'he latter is obtained by the followingmea-ns: a set of bevel pinions 63 also controls a second volume register `61 for the considered liquid of determined density, by means of a coupling, the movable part 68 of which is operated by the arm 56' of the lever 55-56 actuated by the power-piston I6I1. Thus this coupling becomes effective only for a predetermined position o'f the piston I6-I1, i. e. during the passage of a liquid oi' determined density, for instance, in the case oi' the figure, for a liquid of the highest density, corresponding to the uppermost position of the piston I6-I1.

When the lever 55, into operative contact, it also actuates an electric switch 69 causing the operation of a signaling device 10 so that the attendant 'may be immediately advised of the passing of Athe determined foreign liquid.

'I'he attendant upon hearing the alarm may observe the instantaneous rate of lflow of the foreign liquid by means of the tachometer 62 which will indicate this at such time.

-In most of the applications, it is useful to be able to meter separately the liquids charged and discharged from the tank to which the meter is applied. For this purpose the whole Set of meters 5, 66, 61 and their variable oriixed ratio transmissions, as shown in the upper part of Figure 1,

. is symmetrically reproduced as shown in the lower part of said gure by 5', 66 and 61'. The control oi these registers 5', 66', 61' is insured by a pinion 44' placed symmetrically to the pinion. with respect to the fixed pinion 4,0. Thus, the movable pinion 42 carried by the lever 4I and pivoted w'ith light friction to the shaft of the ilxed pinion 40, comes into mesh (Figure 3) with the pinion 44 and actuates the whole set of the lower registers 5', 66', 61 when the direction o1' flow in the piping 2 3 is opposed to the arrow 31 and when, consequently, the pinion 40 turns in the opposite direction to the arrow4 43.

A hand 1I xed to the lever 55-56 indicates, vby its displacements in front of a graduated scale 12, the density of the metered liquid.

An apparatus thus constituted is particularly adapted to practical conditions of use as it allows as has been lshown above:

1. To measure and indicate the Weight and volume of the principal liquid which is being handled.

2. T o detect by means of a signaling device the passage f a different liquid o1' determined density.-

3. To meter and to indicate separately also the delivered amount of this diierent liquid.

4. To effect these meterings and indications by weight and by volume in each direction of flow of -the liquid through the meter. 'f

5. To indicate the direction of the passage of the liquid throughthe meter.

6. To indicate by direct reading the instantaneous rate of flow.

7. To make (if the tained by means of a 56 brings the coupling 68 and indications independentof the geographical latitude. I,

8. To indicate the density WhatI claimjis': l l v 1. Meter for liquids capable of' metering the weights ,of liquids oi' varying densities, particularly of liquids with irregular expansion coeilicients, such as oils, petrols, petroleums and a1- cohols, comprising iiow responsive means having a movable member in said means, a correcting device consisting in a float sunk into the liquid to. be -metered,'a counterweight and meansforl balancing said iloat by said counterweight, a register, a transmission with variable ratio insertedbetween the movable member of said ow responsive means and the register, a hydraulic servo-motor comprising a power member driven by the pressure of the metered liquid, means ior controlling said servo-motor by said correcting device, and means whereby said servo-motoris made to vary the ratio oi thetransmission.

2. Meter for liquids capable oi metering the weights of liquids of varying densities, particularly of liquids or irregular expansiomcoefilcients, comprising a reversible'hydraulic motor, a float sunk into the liquid to be metered, a counterweight and means for balancing said float by said counterweight, a register, a transmission with variable ratio inserted between the motor and the register, a hydraulic servo-motor comprising a power member driven by the pressure of the metered liquid, means whereby the pressure oi the liquid metered.

' of the lqurdamade to actin the same direction upon said power member whatever the direction of now of the liquid through the motor, said means comprising a distributing slidelve and an inverting device, means for controlling said servo-motor through the displacement of the balanced float, and means whereby said servo-motor is made to vary the ratio of the transmission.

3. Meter for liquids capable oi metering ther weights oi liquids oi varying densities, particularly Aof liquids with irregular expansion coeflicients, comprising a hydraulic motor driven by the metered liquid, a register, a transmission de vice between said register and said motor, said device comprising a ratchet wheel, an oscillating lever with a pawl driving said wheel, and a telescopic 'connecting rod. driven by the motor and acting upon said lever, a correcting device comprising a iioat sunk into the liquid to be metered, a counterweight and means for balancing said float by said counterweight, and means for varying the amplitude of the oscillating lever driving the ratchet wheel according to the position oi. the oat, said means comprising a movable stop connected to said float.

4. Meter for liquids capable oi metering the weights 'of liquids of larly o i liquids with irregular expansion coefiiciente, comprising a reversible hydraulic motor driven by the metered liquid, two registers, two transmissions with a variable ratio inserted between said motor and said registers, means ior` driving one transmission when the. liquid flows in one direction through the motor; means for driving the other transmission when the liquid ilows in the opposite direction, a correcting de- @vice compising a iioat sunk into the liquid to be "/metered, a counterweight and means for balancing saidl iloat by said counterweight, and means for controlling the speed ratios of said transmissions by the displacement of said oat.

JEAN PIERRE EDMONDPOILLOT.

varying densities, particu- -v 

